A/N: The muse…and all my reviewers…have been very good to me recently and have lead me to write much more than usual. I don't know how long this streak will last, or how much more spare time I'll be able to rummage up, but enjoy!

Also, I've been a little nervous to write Harry and Ron, just because their voices come a little less clear to me than the rest. Any input or advice would certainly be appreciated!

Draco stayed in the empty classroom for a long time after Granger had left with the Slytherins. He had healed his broken nose as best he could on his own, but the blood still covered his hands and face and dripped slowly down the front of his white shirt. Previously to his encounter with Granger, he had thought that he had been handling the whole "stuck in an alternate universe" thing fairly well, but actually speaking to her and then being mauled by some of his best friends had thrown him off.

Yes, that was the perfect way to describe the way he felt around Granger…off balance. When she had bluntly told him that she knew he wasn't evil, he had been completely aghast. It hadn't even occurred to him that Granger would find out his and his friends' well-kept secret. Then she had promptly gone into hysterical giggles, followed by a sobbing fit and Draco had been even more confused. He had tried to be his regular self with her, feeling certain that business as usual would make their needed interactions simpler.

However, they had quickly begun arguing (which was usual), but then when he had uttered that word he really didn't feel comfortable with anymore, Granger had launched herself at him and attempted to pummel him with her tiny fists. Again, he was so bewildered by her actions – she had never deigned to touch him before, except for that one awful slap – that he had just let himself be backed into a corner by the petite fury that was Hermione Granger.

When she had finally revealed that he knew his secrets, had read his journal (or her diary, whatever), he had been totally stunned. Had nothing to say. He had opened his mouth to speak, eventually, and he heard himself telling her to call him Draco. He really had no idea where that had come from, by there was sound logic behind the statement at least and she hadn't argued with him.

But then when she had said his name in that awful tone of voice, something inside of him had snapped and suddenly he was back in perfect form, talking to her in a voice dripping with condescension and hatred. He hated her, he reminded himself now. Just because he didn't care about what kind of blood she had didn't mean that he couldn't hate her for a variety of other reasons, he told himself.

Anyway, he had whispered her name back to her, for the first time, and it had clearly been too much for her. But when she had tried to run away from him, he could still feel his emotions growing and rising and had grabbed for her, desperate to finish the conversation. Then the really bizarre had started happening.

Now he still sat, slumped against the wall. He could understand with his brain why they had done it – they thought they were protecting one of their own – but his heart still ached at the betrayal of the friends he thought of more like brothers. Mildly annoyed with himself for thinking like such a pansy, he rose to his feet.

Be Draco Malfoy, damn it! he thought to himself. He couldn't allow Granger to keep throwing him all out-of-sorts, he needed to remind her that he as the true Slytherin. What could he do that would throw Granger into a tizzy? A flash of inspiration hit and Draco's trademark smirk appeared on his face.

ooooooooooo

Hermione had allowed Theo to escort her back to her Head Girl rooms, but had flitted into the door, mumbling excuses about her headache (which was actually gone now) without allowing him a chance to kiss her again. She needed her head to be clear so she think properly about what had happened and how to go from here.

The confrontation with Malfoy had not gone as well as she had planned. While she certainly hadn't expected him to break down, sobbing and apologizing, when she informed him she knew the truth, Hermione had not expected him to be as angry as he had been. Of course, she hadn't really intended for him to see Theo kissing her either.

Even though she was alone, she still blushed at the thought of Theo. It was strange to think that only days before she had been leading a relatively romance-free life and now was allowing a good deal of PDA in a relationship she wasn't exactly sure how to define.

How exactly had she allowed herself to end up in this situation anyway? She blamed the firewhiskey, of course, but she could really only count that for the first kisses, the worst kisses, the ones were she had only been wearing her knickers. Hermione could feel heat rushing to her cheeks at the thought of shirtless Theo, covering her mouth with his.

Bad Hermione! Now that Malfoy was awake and angry, all the guilt that she had been suppressing was pressing in on her on all sides. She had told herself she was just trying to assimilate and play the part until she could find a way home, but she had let it become more. It's not that her life at home wasn't satisifying – Harry and Ron were the best friends she could have ever asked for, they were like her brothers. But maybe too much like big brothers…they treated her with love and respect, defending her honor (even when it didn't need it), but she had always felt like the two boys had a special bond that they didn't feel like they could share with her.

Even with the relatively short time she had spent with them, Hermione could see it was different with the Slytherins. They all loved each other like brothers and sisters, but they had no problem viewing each other in a romantic or sexual light either. None of them placed Hermione on a pedestal here, she was privy to all the crude jokes and rude pranks that if Harry and Ron had done, they had kept from her. She rather liked the freedom and easy familiarity that came with being a Slytherin as well. She had sat in Blaise's lap several times already, Theo had given her a piggy-back ride, and Daphne and Pansy were always playing with her hair and linking arms with her as they walked, not to mention that they all hugged and kissed each other on the cheek when arriving or departing from one another's presence. Harry and Ron were always respectful with her, rarely initiated physical demonstrations of affection, and were careful not to touch her in a way that could be misconstrued as something more than friendship.

Thinking on this, Hermione could see how she had easily let herself forget she was not really one of them. Clearly, this kind of relationship with people was something she had missed out on, and obviously desired. Still, as much as it pained her to admit it, Malfoy was right to be upset with her. She had no right to allow Theo to kiss her, Theo was another Hermione's Theo to kiss. Anyway, how would she feel if the situation had been reversed and Malfoy had been acting all chummy with her friends?

ooooooooooo

After Draco had cleaned up, changed clothes, and done a more thorough job of healing his nose using a mirror, he had headed straight to the Gryffindor common room. Unfortunately, he was now just standing in front of the portrait that was the entrance, as he had no earthly idea what the password was. He was had been staring at it only briefly, trying to think of another plan, when a short figure with wavy red hair that could only belong to a Weasley had attached itself to him.

"Drake! You're awake!" it squealed into his chest.

Draco groaned inwardly and steeled himself to play goody-goody two shoes.

"Good as new," he responded brightly.

The little red-haired figure finally released him and stood far enough away that she could meet his eyes comfortably without craning her neck. Draco had guessed correctly…it was Ginny Weasley.

"I haven't seen you since yesterday," she said, a look of concern in her eyes. "You must have practically sprinted out of the Hospital Wing, by the time I came back with Harry and Ron you were already gone. You never told the boys the password to your rooms so they couldn't even go and watch over you like Dumbledore asked."

Draco tried his best to look apologetic.

"I'm so sorry, Gin. I was just overtired. I went straight to sleep as soon as I reached my rooms. I hope I didn't worry you too much."

Oh, ew. The sugary sweetness of his voice was enough to make Draco want to vomit. Hopefully this was going to be worth it.

But now Ginny was looking at him rather strangely.

"Are you sure you're alright? I know Miss Slytherin Princess was acting strange yesterday, and you're acting a little off too," she said, looking at him thoughtfully. "You're missing your…snark," she finished after a long pause.

Hallelujah, Draco thought to himself. Maybe his alter-ego wasn't as much of a namby-pamby idiot here as he had feared after all.

"What was that, Ginger? Were you fearful I would forget my undying love for you?" he teased her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close again.

It was still irritating to him to have to be chummy with the people he had been mortal enemies with for years, but at least he could be more himself than he had originally anticipated.

"Draco…stop it!" Ginny squealed as she tried to twist out of his grasp.

"I can't help it! I love you…you…complete…me," he said dramatically, quoting from a one of the only Muggle movies he had every seen – some stupid chick flick Pansy had smuggled into the Manor last summer.

"Get off, you idiot! You made your point!" she said, still trying to get away.

"No, no, darling, your line is, 'you had me at hello!'" he chided Ginny, still holding her steadfast to his side.

"What's going on here?" a deeper voice asked.

Draco spun both himself and Ginny around to come face to face with both Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Still mindful of his recent encounter with the Slytherin boys, Draco released Ginny rather quickly.

"Is there something you wanted to tell us, mate?" Harry asked, a teasing smile on his face.

"I get to be the best man, right?" Ron asked. "After all, Ginny is my sister."

Harry looked at Ron with indignation. "That's hardly fair, Ron. Merlin knows you'll never get married and then I'll never get to be a best man. Drake's my best chance."

"We are not getting married!" Ginny stomped her foot in consternation.

"Don't be that way, lover," Draco said in a soothing voice, grabbing her hand and placing a loud, wet kiss on her knuckles.

"Ewww, Draco!" Ginny wrenched her arm away and wiped the imaginary slobber off on Draco's sleeve. "I have to go meet my Charms study group…will you boys watch over Drake? I fear he may be a little unstable," she finished in a mock whisper.

The boys were still laughing too hard over Draco's ministrations to Ginny's hand to offer a proper goodbye, so Ginny just sighed, turned away, and left.

"Brilliant, mate," Harry offered between gasping laughs.

Ron had already managed to calm down and clapped a hand on Draco's shoulder. "If you ever do fall for Ginny, you have to answer to me and all that rot," he said, looking at Draco fiercely. "You will treat her right or I'll bloody kill you."

Draco tried his best to look petrified of the moronic boy that he had a good three inches on. He glanced at Harry, whose incredulous expression pretty much mirrored Draco's own feelings. The two burst into simultaneous laughter, much to the bewilderment of poor Ron.

"Fortes fortuna iuvat," Harry muttered to the portrait. As it swung open, he and a still laughing Draco entered, leaving a disoriented Ron in their wake.

"What's so funny? I meant that!" Ron called to their disappearing forms. "Hey, wait up!"